The Union Cabinet has approved an Integrated Energy Policy for the country. A monitoring committee, to be chaired by the Cabinet Secretary, will be set up to review the progress of the , policy's implementation. At present there are five separate ministries -- Coal, Petroleum and Natural Gas, Atomic Energy, Power and Non-Conventional Energy sources - each preoccupied with issues in its own turf. The integrated policy is expected to explore alternative technologies and possible synergies that would increase energy system efficiency and meet requirement forrnenergy services. It would allow for relative pricing of different fuels. Relative pricing, the Government hopes, would result in inter-fuel choices that are socially and economically desirable. An integrated policy is also expected to bring in a level playing field for all energy players - large or small, public or private, domestic or foreign.
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